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Mathias Cena
For Mathias Cena's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Mayuko Kashiwazaki tries on her mask after getting into costume before a dress rehearsal for "Dojoji," a famous noh drama about the revenge of a betrayed woman.
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 7, 2024
An 'all-women' noh production challenges traditional Japanese ideas
While women have been involved in noh for decades, older audiences tend to expect an all-male cast. Now, actors believe the times are changing.
Japanese fans of Taylor Swift take a selfie before entering Tokyo Dome for the pop star's Eras Tour show in Japan on Feb. 7.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Feb 7, 2024
Taylor-mania hits Tokyo as Swift resumes tour before Super Bowl
Excited fans from countries such as Australia, Thailand and China joined the vast crowd at Tokyo Dome ahead of the megastar's Eras Tour show on Wednesday.
Executive officer, producer and director Masayoshi Yokoyama poses next to a promotional poster for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The Yakuza gangster series has long been seen as a Japanese version of Grand Theft Auto, but Yokoyama dismisses any such comparison.
LIFE / Digital
Jan 25, 2024
'We don't hit women': How Yakuza differs from Grand Theft Auto
Designer Masayoshi Yokoyama sat down to discuss video game violence ahead of the Jan. 26 release of the latest in the Yakuza series.
A man walks out of a game store displaying a promotional poster for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the latest in the Yakuza series of video games. Behind the worldwide success of Japanese video games lies a delicate task: appealing to overseas players whose expectations on issues like sexism are increasingly influencing the content of major titles.
LIFE / Digital
Jan 25, 2024
From Japan to the world: how to translate a game
Everything from slang to costumes needs to be considered in an era where international success is crucial to making a blockbuster.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Apr 3, 2023
Super Mario: Nintendo's decades of star power
The pint-sized plumber has enjoyed 40 years of extraordinary popularity that has transformed the character into a truly global icon.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 24, 2023
Japan's rare intimacy coordinators in demand after abuse scandals
In the wake of sexual abuse scandals in Japan's entertainment industry, some directors are reaching out for guidance from intimacy coordinator Momoko Nishiyama.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 13, 2022
'Inevitable': Views on U.S. bases shift in Okinawa
With Okinawa Prefecture now a front line in the burgeoning confrontation between China and regional U.S. allies, bases are becoming increasingly important.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech / FOCUS
Jul 5, 2022
'Guerrilla' sales and crowdsourcing: Japan's game console crunch
Video game consoles by Sony and Microsoft have been hard to buy since their November 2020 release, leaving consumers and sellers stuck in a game of cat-and-mouse.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on